2016 Squad

[southland]

Its a puzzle that will unfold in the trials and first ten games next year...

1.Barba 6.Bird 7.Maloney 9.Ennis (Leave Holmes at 5. where he is scoring try after try)

1.Holmes 6.Barba 7.Maloney 9.Ennis (Bird at centre, Loots to wing?)

1.Holmes 6.Maloney 7.Townsend 9.Ennis (Probably what we will see.)

Now that we have a plan in motion for the halves issue, recruitment is defiantly about forward depth. I'd like us to look at Raymond Faitala-Mariner and not that he is available but Tepai Moeroa put two young guys like this together on the bench... I was liking D Fifita this year, he had earnt a consistent start in the 17, pity about the temper tantrantrums...

 

[Surely]

having a noted shit defender like Maloney means you wouldn't want bird covering for him, because bird misses a few himself.

Centre for mine until he matures a little

 

[Dragon Slayer]

The worst defender in that lot is Chad Townsend.

 

[glenmoresharkie]

Remember when we used to have TC and Pom defending together

 

[CSFC]

I think we're all massively underestimating Chad's ability.

He was rubbish back when he was with Sharks, but a few years in the Warriors system has seen his game reach a new level.

Now I know NRL Supercoach is a fantasy game and you might think what I'm about to raise has no weight. But SC features a highly accurate statistical system for reflecting player performances through 22 different performance statistics such as line breaks, offloads, tackle busts, try assists, even docking points for errors etc.

I watch almost every NRL game every week in conjunction with playing Supercoach and can say with confidence that the system always gets it right when it comes to who's had a good or bad game (and always in the right order for who has polled points, and a very true reflection of performance).

i.e. The top 10 players of the season according to Supercoach right now (and their season points) are:

1. Tuivasa-Sheck, R - 1626
2. Tedesco, J - 1581
3. Mannering, S - 1558
4. Thurston, J - 1525
5. Parker, C - 1464
6. Maloney, J - 1452
7. Smith, C - 1422
8. Bromwich, J - 1368
9. Hunt, B - 1350
10. Milford, A - 1346

This is a very accurate Top 10 in my opinion, based off 25 rounds worth of performance data. It's no fluke guys like Sheck, Tedesco, Thurston, Parker, Smith, Hunt, Milford etc are in there. You can't argue with them.

Back to Chad.

The point I'm alluding to is that I remember the first half of this year Townsend was absolutely killing it for Warriors (before Johnson's injury and their 8-losses-in-a-row derailment). Me and mates playing supercoach were all jealous of the guy with Townsend because he was polling points for try assists, trys, line breaks etc. I think he was placed in the top 10 in the league for a few weeks.

Fast forward and Townsends back end of the year has been forgettable since Warriors have been on a ridiculous downward spiral. However, even throughout all this he is still currently ranked the 64th most form player of this season. In comparison, Mitch Pearce is 75th, Valentine Holmes is 90th, and Cooper Cronk is 108th.

Try check out some of his highlights from the first half of this year and you'll see what I mean.

2 trys, 11 Try assists, 7 line breaks, and 166 runs for 1397 metres. See here: http://www.totalfootystats.com.au/nrl-player-stats/new-zealand-warriors/chad-townsend#.VeTZe_aqqko

I think we need a dedicated #6 in five-eighth to pair with Maloney. The last thing we need is Maloney trying to work with a non-6 because he has to. Chad's a specialist 5/8 and should start for us there every week. Bird should play centre where he is most comfortable and wants to play.

Yes, old Chad was crap. 2015 Chad has been great. Hopefully 2016 Chad will be his breakout year alongside Maloney.

 

[cb4]

Maloney will be in the 6 next year. Bank you house on it. Chad will be in the 7.

The backline will be decided in the trials. Val is the only lock in the backline next year. I full expect to see an easy transition of Gordon out, Barba to 1, Bird in the forwards.

 

[ghoti]

I think we need a dedicated #6 in five-eighth to pair with Maloney. The last thing we need is Maloney trying to work with a non-6 because he has to. Chad's a specialist 5/8 and should start for us there every week. Bird should play centre where he is most comfortable and wants to play.

Yes, old Chad was crap. 2015 Chad has been great. Hopefully 2016 Chad will be his breakout year alongside Maloney.

Yep, Bird is a stopgap who's working behind an incredibly effective forward pack at present and he's doing a really good job considering...but it doesn't take much of a football brain to see that his lines are stilted and his passing game is stodgy (anyone who whines about Robbo in this regard should be able to see that). But it's working ok this year...no Ennis though, and it all goes to shit.

Townsend I'm not convinced on either, but when the Warriors pack was firing and the defence was freaking out about Johnson on the other side of the field he was playing great, choosing the right options...kicking game was up there with the best non-superstar halves, and his passing/running game isn't limited by an inability to reach distance or get off the mark.

He'll be good for us, may not be the best option, but if Ennis keeps running that pack up the middle and Maloney asks enough questions then Townsend will perform like a top-level half (even if he isn't). When we get ground down, can't make meters and it all rests on him to do something creative, he'll be playing poorly...but that's true of most halves.

 

[Ads]

Chads a massive upgrade on Robson and Maloney is a huge upgrade on Bird. No doubt those two start the season.

 

[Card Shark]

Maloney will be in the 6 next year. Bank you house on it. Chad will be in the 7.

The backline will be decided in the trials. Val is the only lock in the backline next year. I full expect to see an easy transition of Gordon out, Barba to 1, Bird in the forwards.

Bird doesn't wanna be a forward.

How will he react to that?

 

[chewsta]

No matter how you look at it we will be a far better attacking team next year, which is fugging exciting considering we are up to our eyeballs in it this year!

 

[Born BB&W]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Bird thinks centre is his best pozzie?

 

[cb4]

Bird doesn't wanna be a forward.

How will he react to that?

Bird will need to do what is best for the team.

Our 2-5 Can't be split due to combinations. Unless we decide Barba will be brought on as a super sub, but then we face the real prospect of Feki getting hooked after 50, Val going back to the wing and Barba playing 1.

He will suit right side edge forward a lot better than right centre.

 

[Jono Russell]

Barba to fullback. Holmes needs 1 more full NRL season before making the switch.

I want to see
1 - Barba
2 - Feki
3 - Loots
4 - Beale
5 - Holmes

You can not break up the centre/wing combos we have Loots/Feki and Beale/Holmes work so well together.

Bird would make a great Lock but let's ace it Gal will not give that up. So maybe super sub Bird.

 

[Born BB&W]

Bird said his preferred position is centre I think.

 

[cb4]

Bird said his preferred position is centre I think.

And?

 

[webShark]

Barba to fullback. Holmes needs 1 more full NRL season before making the switch.

I want to see
1 - Barba
2 - Feki
3 - Loots
4 - Beale
5 - Holmes

You can not break up the centre/wing combos we have Loots/Feki and Beale/Holmes work so well together.

Bird would make a great Lock but let's ace it Gal will not give that up. So maybe super sub Bird.

The truth is Barba is unlikely to return to his glory days. I wouldn't pick him. But Flanno will as he is a marquee signing. Not been mentioned , but seen Bird go well at FB for the Dragons 20s.

Sharks see Bird as a centre , so I think he will take the place of Loots. Nu Brown would be my bench utility. Can play half, hooker and got some size. Could fill in as a centre or second row for a short stint.

 

[chewsta]

Not been mentioned , but seen Bird go well at FB for the Dragons 20s.

After hearing we had signed him, I kept an eye out for him in the 20's comp. In 3 games playing 3 different positions he got Man of the Match in every game. Fullback, 5/8 and in the backrow.
It wouldn't matter where he played, he would play well.

 

[Born BB&W]

And?

And... There is not a lot more I can add to that... Except that I presume that is where he performs best.

 

[cb4]

And... There is not a lot more I can add to that... Except that I presume that is where he performs best.

His 2 years in the 20's he spent more time at Backrow than Centre.

He made the fuss on being a Centre because that is an area we are weak.

 

[Born BB&W]

I see so the plot thickens really a back rower.